Aeroplane.



M. WORHATCH.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 22. 1518.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l HOZH md AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED ocT.22. uns.

Patented Mar. 11,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Wmme/o emma, f

A MAX WORHATCH, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

AEROPLNE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

PatentedMar. 11, 1919.

Application led October 22, 1918. Serial No. 259,201.

ascending and descending.

A further object is to provide stabilizing means whereby more effective control is obtainable when the machine is traveling on a straight course.

Briefly described, the machine includes a body portion, plurality of forward planes, a plurality of `rear planes, and an intermediate plane, the latter being especially designed for stabilizing purposes; the machine further includes an engine driving a forward propeller, and also. adapted to ldrive at times a propeller rotating on a vertical axis, and designed for use when ascending or descending. Another feature of importance is the provision of gas containers so located that in the event of' accident to the engine ,or any part of the mechanical driving or supporting means, gradual and without serious injury to the machine or to the operator.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a'view of the machine in side elevation, and Fig. 2 is a top plan view.

The body of the machine is designated 10 and is mounted upon wheels 12 at the forward portion and Wheels 13 located near the rear. The forward planes are designated 15 and 16 and the rear planes as shown at 17 and 18. At an intermediate position is a stabilizing plane 20. The engine is shown conventionally at 24 and drives through suitable connections shaft 25 carrying a forward propeller 26. fThis propeller may be thrown out by means of a clutch` 27 under the control of a lever 28.

The vertical shaft 30 carries a propeller 31 designed. for use in ascending, and which may also be used in descending, for retarddescent may bethe machine funder the ing the movement of The vertical shaft is acti-on of gravity.

.driven by means of a gear wheel 32 meshingV withV a gear wheel 33, the latter being mounted on shaft 25 carrying the forward propeller. The propeller carried by the vertical shaft may be thrown out through the operation of a clutch 35 under the control of `arlever 36.

A horizontal rudder is under the control of suitable operating means shown conventionally at 37, the rudder .being designated 38. A vertically located rudder or vane 40 is under the control of means shown conventionally at 41. A seat for the operator is shown at 43, and seats for passengers are designated 44. v

In order to provide for the` gradual return of the machine to the ground in the event of accident to the driving mechanism, I provide a plurality of gasv containers, which may be deflated under usual conditions, but

which will be filled with gas when the aviator is about to undertake a flight under unusual or hazardous conditions. Two of these gas bags are located between the forward planes,- and at the ends thereof, being designated and 46. ,A `third gas container 48 is located centrally of the machine and near the rear planes. The arrangement of these gas containers is especially important with reference to the several planes, as they serve to stabilize the machine, preventing the latter from being seriously influenced by air currents.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the class described', a body portion, a plurality of forward planes mounted thereon, a plurality of planes at the rear of the body, guiding means, a for-v body portion, a, plurality of forward planos, gas containers located below the ands of the upper forward plano9 a plurality of planos at the rea? of the body portion5 an intermedato plane locatedait `'the roar of "she o'- Waal planos and ransversely of the body? a @as Goulaine? located alom@ he line the body and new. the rear plano, guclnf" moans, a lifting pzopeller, ay dl'ving propel er, and means coni-rolling the propelles ndependl0 emily.

ln testimony Wlloof l ax my signature. 

